Semiconductor memory device

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor memory device is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell may include a first region connected to a source line extending in a first orientation. Each memory cell may also include a second region connected to a bit line extending a second orientation. Each memory cell may further include a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device may also include a first barrier wall extending in the first orientation and a second barrier wall extending in the second orientation and intersecting with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/165,346, filed Mar. 31, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor memory devices and, more particularly, to techniques for providing a semiconductor memory device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The semiconductor industry has experienced technological advances that have permitted increases in density and/or complexity of semiconductor memory devices. Also, the technological advances have allowed decreases in power consumption and package sizes of various types of semiconductor memory devices. There is a continuing trend to employ and/or fabricate advanced semiconductor memory devices using techniques, materials, and devices that improve performance, reduce leakage current, and enhance overall scaling. Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and bulk substrates are examples of materials that may be used to fabricate such semiconductor memory devices. Such semiconductor memory devices may include, for example, partially depleted (PD) devices, fully depleted (FD) devices, multiple gate devices (for example, double, triple, or surrounding gate), and Fin-FET devices.

A semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell having a memory transistor with an electrically floating body region wherein electrical charges may be stored. When excess majority electrical charge carriers are stored in the electrically floating body region, the memory cell may store a logic high (e.g., binary “1” data state). When the electrical floating body region is depleted of majority electrical charge carriers, the memory cell may store a logic low (e.g., binary “0” data state). Also, a semiconductor memory device may be fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates or bulk substrates (e.g., enabling body isolation). For example, a semiconductor memory device may be fabricated as a three-dimensional (3-D) device (e.g., multiple gate devices, Fin-FETs, recessed gates and pillars).

In one conventional technique, the memory cell of the semiconductor memory device may be read by applying bias signals to a source/drain region and/or a gate of the memory transistor. As such, a conventional reading technique may involve sensing an amount of current provided/generated by/in the electrically floating body region of the memory cell in response to the application of the source/drain region and/or gate bias signals to determine a data state stored in the memory cell. For example, the memory cell may have two or more different current states corresponding to two or more different logical states (e.g., two different current conditions/states corresponding to two different logic states: a binary “0” data state and a binary “1” data state).

In another conventional technique, the memory cell of the semiconductor memory device may be written to by applying bias signals to the source/drain region(s) and/or the gate of the memory transistor. As such, a conventional writing technique may result in an increase/decrease of majority charge carriers in the electrically floating body region of the memory cell which, in turn, may determine the data state of the memory cell. An increase of majority charge carriers in the electrically floating body region may result from impact ionization, band-to-band tunneling (gate-induced drain leakage “GIDL”), or direct injection. A decrease of majority charge carriers in the electrically floating body region may result from charge carriers being removed via drain region charge carrier removal, source region charge carrier removal, or drain and source region charge carrier removal, for example, using back gate pulsing.

Often, a conventional semiconductor memory cell requires relatively large area and/or large power consumption when performing reading and/or writing operations. For example, a conventional semiconductor memory cell may be fabricated having various regions in a planar orientation and occupying a large area on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate or bulk substrate. Thus, a conventional semiconductor memory cell may have inefficient scalability and lead to an increase in the size of the semiconductor memory cell. Also, pulsing between positive and negative gate biases during read and/or write operations may result in an increase in power consumption of the conventional semiconductor memory cell.

In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there may be significant problems and shortcomings associated with conventional floating body semiconductor memory devices.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Techniques for providing a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Each memory cell may include a first region connected to a source line extending in a first orientation. Each memory cell may also include a second region connected to a bit line extending a second orientation. Each memory cell may further include a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The semiconductor device may also comprise a first barrier wall extending in the first orientation of the array and a second barrier wall extending in the second orientation of the array and intersecting with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells.

In accordance with other aspects of the particular exemplary embodiment, the first region and the second region may be N-doped regions.

In accordance with further aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the body region may be an P-doped region.

In accordance with additional aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the body region may be an undoped region.

In accordance with additional aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the first barrier wall and the second barrier wall may be formed of an insulating oxide material.

In accordance with yet another aspect of this particular exemplary embodiment, the first barrier wall and the second barrier wall may be formed on a P-type substrate.

In accordance with other aspects of the particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may be disposed along a side of the body region.

In accordance with further aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, a height of the word line may be similar to a height of the body region.

In accordance with additional aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may be disposed adjacent to a side of the body region and a side of at least a portion of the first region.

In accordance with additional aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may be disposed along a side of the body region and a side of at least a portion of the second region.

In accordance with yet another aspect of this particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may be disposed along a side of the body region, at least a portion of a side of the first region, and at least a portion of a side of the second region.

In accordance with other aspects of the particular exemplary embodiment, a height of the word line may be shorter than a height of the body region.

In accordance with further aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

In accordance with additional aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may have a U cross-sectional shape.

In accordance with additional aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may have an L cross-sectional shape.

In accordance with yet another aspect of this particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may be capacitively coupled to a plurality of the body regions.

In accordance with other aspects of the particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may be coupled to a constant voltage potential.

In accordance with further aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the word line may be coupled to a ground voltage potential.

In accordance with additional aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the array of memory cells may comprise a dummy row of memory cells separating adjacent rows of the memory cells.

In accordance with additional aspects of this particular exemplary embodiment, the source line may extend in the first orientation configured in a plane below the first region.

In accordance with yet another aspect of this particular exemplary embodiment, the bit line may extend in the second orientation configured in a plane above the second region.

In accordance with other aspects of the particular exemplary embodiment, the bit line may be connected to the second region via a bit line contact.

The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. While the present disclosure is described below with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fields of use, which are within the scope of the present disclosure as described herein, and with respect to which the present disclosure may be of significant utility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are referenced with like numerals. These drawings should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure, but are intended to be exemplary only.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array, data write and sense circuitry, and memory cell selection and control circuitry in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a portion of a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells in accordance with a first alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a three dimensional view of a portion of a memory cell array in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 7 shows top and cross-sectional views of a portion of a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows top and cross-sectional views of a portion of a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells in accordance with a first alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows top and cross-sectional views of a portion of a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic block diagram of a semiconductor memory device 10 comprising a memory cell array 20, data write and sense circuitry 36, and memory cell selection and control circuitry 38 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The memory cell array 20 may comprise a plurality of memory cells 12 each connected to the memory cell selection and control circuitry 38 via a word line (WL) 28 and/or a source line (EN) 32, and the data write and sense circuitry 36 via a bit line (CN) 30. It may be appreciated that the bit line (CN) 30 and the source line (EN) 32 are designations used to distinguish between two signal lines and they may be used interchangeably. The data write and sense circuitry 36 may read data from and may write data to selected memory cells 12. In an exemplary embodiment, the data write and sense circuitry 36 may include a plurality of data sense amplifiers. Each data sense amplifier may receive at least one bit line (CN) 30 and a current or voltage reference signal. For example, each data sense amplifier may be a cross-coupled type sense amplifier to sense a data state stored in a memory cell 12.

Each data sense amplifier may employ voltage and/or current sensing circuitry and/or techniques. In an exemplary embodiment, each data sense amplifier may employ current sensing circuitry and/or techniques. For example, a current sense amplifier may compare current from a selected memory cell 12 to a reference current (e.g., the current of one or more reference cells). From that comparison, it may be determined whether the selected memory cell 12 contains a logic high (e.g., binary “1” data state) or a logic low (e.g., binary “0” data state). It may be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various types or forms of data write and sense circuitry 36 (including one or more sense amplifiers, using voltage or current sensing techniques, using or not reference cells, to sense a data state stored in a memory cell 12) may be employed to read data stored in memory cells 12 and/or write data to memory cells 12.

Also, the memory cell selection and control circuitry 38 may select and/or enable one or more predetermined memory cells to facilitate reading data therefrom and/or writing data thereto by applying control signals on one or more word lines (WL) 28 and/or source lines (EN) 32. The memory cell selection and control circuitry 38 may generate such control signals from address signals, for example, row address signals. Moreover, the memory cell selection and control circuitry 38 may include a word line decoder and/or driver. For example, the memory cell selection and control circuitry 38 may include one or more different control/selection techniques (and circuitry therefore) to select and/or enable one or more predetermined memory cells 12. Notably, all such control/selection techniques, and circuitry therefore, whether now known or later developed, are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

In an exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor memory device 10 may implement a two step write operation whereby all the memory cells 12 in an active row of memory cells 12 are first written to a logic low (e.g., binary “0” data state) by executing a “clear” or a logic low (e.g., binary “0” data state) write operation. Thereafter, selected memory cells 12 in the active row of memory cells 12 may be selectively written to a logic high (e.g., binary “1” data state) by executing a logic high (e.g., binary “1” data state) write operation. The semiconductor memory device 10 may also implement a one step write operation whereby selected memory cells 12 in an active row of memory cells 12 may be selectively written to either a logic high (e.g., binary “1” data state) or a logic low (e.g., binary “0” data state) without first implementing a “clear” operation. The semiconductor memory device 10 may employ any of the exemplary writing, refreshing, holding, and/or reading techniques described herein.

The memory cells 12 may comprise N-type, P-type and/or both types of transistors. Circuitry that is peripheral to the memory array 20 (for example, sense amplifiers or comparators, row and column address decoders, as well as line drivers (not illustrated herein)) may also include P-type and/or N-type transistors. Regardless of whether P-type transistors or N-type transistors are employed in memory cells 12 in the memory array 20, suitable voltage potentials (for example, positive or negative voltage potentials) for reading from and/or writing to the memory cells 12 should be well known to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. Accordingly, for sake of brevity, a discussion of such suitable voltage potentials will not be included herein.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a top view of a portion of the memory cell array 20 having a plurality of memory cells 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in the top view, the memory cell array 20 may include a plurality of memory cells 12 arranged in a matrix of rows and columns including a plurality of word lines 28 (WL), a plurality of bit lines (CN) 30, and a plurality of source lines (EN) 32. Each bit line (CN) 30 may extend in a first orientation along a first plane of the memory cell array 20. Each source line (EN) 32 may extend in a second orientation along a second plane of the memory cell array 20. Each word line (WL) 28 may extend in the second orientation along a third plane of the memory cell array 20. The first plane, the second plane, and a third plane may be arranged in different planes parallel to each other.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross-sectional view of a portion of the memory cell array 20 having a plurality of memory cells 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line (A-A) of the top view shown in FIG. 2. The cross-sectional view may illustrate a column of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20. In an exemplary embodiment, each row and/or column of the memory cell array 20 may include a plurality of memory cells 12. Each memory cell 12 may comprise an N+ source region 120, a P− body region 122, and an N+ drain region 124. The N+ source region 120, the P− body region 122, and/or the N+ region 124, may be disposed in sequential contiguous relationship in a pillar or fin configuration, and may extend vertically or perpendicularly to a plane defined by a P− substrate 130.

In an exemplary embodiment, the N+ source region 120 may be formed of a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon) comprising donor impurities (e.g., nitrogen, arsenic, and/or phosphorus) and connected to the source line (EN) 32. In an exemplary embodiment, the source line (EN) 32 may be formed of a metal layer. In another exemplary embodiment, the source line (EN) 32 may be formed of a polycide layer (e.g., a combination of a metal material and a silicon material). In another exemplary embodiment, the source line (EN) 32 may be formed of a N+ doped silicon layer. The source line (EN) 32 may be connected to a plurality of memory cells 12 (e.g., a row of memory cells 12). For example, the source line (EN) 32 may be formed below the N+ source region 120. In another exemplary embodiment, the source line (EN) 32 may be formed on a side of the N+ source region 120.

In an exemplary embodiment, the P− body region 122 may be an electrically floating body region of the memory cell 12 configured to accumulate/store charges, and may be spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to the word line (WL) 28. In an exemplary embodiment, the P− body region 122 may be formed of a semiconductor material (e.g., intrinsic silicon) comprising acceptor impurities. For example, the P− body region 122 may be formed of a silicon material doped with boron impurities. In another exemplary embodiment, the P− body region 122 may be formed of a semiconductor material (e.g., intrinsic silicon). In other exemplary embodiments, the P− body region 122 may be formed of an undoped semiconductor material.

The word line (WL) 28 may be formed of a polycide layer or a metal layer. The word line (WL) 28 may be oriented in a row direction of the memory cell array 20 and connected to a plurality of memory cells 12. The word line (WL) 28 may be arranged between two contiguous memory cells 12 (e.g., memory cells 12 located on different rows of the memory cell array 20). The word line (WL) 28 may be shared between two contiguous memory cells 12 in a column direction. In an exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height similar to or equal to the height of the P− body region 122 in order to reduce disturbance that may be caused by the word line (WL) 28. In another exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending beyond the height of the P− body region 122. For example, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending past a bottom region of the P− body region 122 to be adjacent to a top region of the N+ source region 120. In another exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending past a top region of the P− body region 122 to be adjacent to a bottom region of the N+ drain region 124. In other exemplary embodiments, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending past both a bottom region and a top region of the P− body region 122 to be adjacent to a top region of the N+ source region 120 and a bottom region of the N+ drain region 124, respectively.

Also, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height shorter than a height of the P− body region 122. In an exemplary embodiment, a bottom region of the word line (WL) 28 may be flushed with a bottom region of the P− body region 122 while a top region of the word line (WL) 28 may be below a top region of the P− body region 122. In another exemplary embodiment, a top region of the word line (WL) 28 may be flushed with a top region of the P− body region 122 while a bottom region of the word line (WL) 28 may be above a bottom region of the P− body region 122. In other exemplary embodiments, a top region of the word line (WL) 28 may be below a top region of the P− body region 122 and a bottom region of the word line (WL) 28 may be above a bottom region of the P− body region 122.

The P− body region 122 and the word line (WL) 28 may be capacitively coupled via an insulating or dielectric region 128. The insulating or dielectric region 128 may be formed of an insulating material, a dielectric material, or a combination of insulating and dielectric materials. In an exemplary embodiment, the insulating or dielectric region 128 may be arranged on one or more sides of the P− body region 122 to capacitively couple the P− body region 122 to the word line (WL) 28. In another exemplary embodiment, the insulating or dielectric region 128 may circumferentially surround the P− body region 122 in order to capacitively couple the word line (WL) 28 to the P− body region 122.

In an exemplary embodiment, the N+ drain region 124 of the memory cell 12 may be connected to the bit line (CN) 30. In an exemplary embodiment, the N+ drain region 124 may be formed of a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon) comprising donor impurities (e.g., nitrogen, arsenic, and/or phosphorus). In an exemplary embodiment, the bit line (CN) 30 may be formed of a polycide layer. In another exemplary embodiment, the bit line (CN) 30 may be formed of a metal layer. For example, the bit line (CN) 30 may be formed of aluminum, copper, tungsten, titanium, titanium nitride, and/or a combination thereof. In another exemplary embodiment, the bit line (CN) 30 may be formed of a doped polysilicon layer.

The bit line (CN) 30 may be connected to a plurality of memory cells 12 (e.g., a column of memory cells 12) via a plurality of bit line contacts 132. For example, each bit line contact 132 may correspond to a memory cell 12 along a column direction of the memory cell array 20. Each bit line contact 132 may be formed of a metal layer or a polysilicon layer in order to couple a predetermined voltage potential from the bit line (CN) 30 to the N+ drain region 124 of the memory cell 12. For example, the bit line contact 132 may be formed of tungsten, titanium, titanium nitride, polysilicon or a combination thereof. The bit line contact 132 may have a height extending from the bit line (CN) 30 to the N+ drain region 124 of the memory cell 12. The plurality of bit line contacts 132 along the column direction of the memory cell array 20 may be separated from each other via a dielectric material 134. In an exemplary embodiment, the dielectric material 134 may be formed from silicon nitride in order to isolate the memory cells 12 along the column direction of the memory cell 12.

The bit line contact 132 may be isolated from the word line (WL) 28 via an insulator/dielectric material 136. The insulator/dielectric material may be formed of a silicon nitride or silicon dioxide material in order to reduce disturbance of a voltage potential applied on the word line (WL) 28 from a voltage potential applied on the bit line (CN) 30. In an exemplary embodiment, an interface layer 138 may be provided between the bit line contact 132 and the insulator/dielectric material 136 in order to obtain a reliable contact between the bit line contact 132 and the insulator/dielectric material 136. The interface layer 138 may be arranged on a top region and/or side regions of the insulator/dielectric material 136. The interface layer 138 may be formed, for example, of an insulating material (e.g., silicon nitride or silicon dioxide).

In an exemplary embodiment, the P− substrate 130 may be made of a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon) comprising acceptor impurities and may form a base of the memory cell array 20. In alternative exemplary embodiments, a plurality of P− substrates 130 may form the base of the memory cell array 20 or a single P− substrate 130 may form the base of the memory cell array 20. Also, the P− substrate 130 may be made in the form of a P-well substrate.

A plurality of barrier walls 140 may be formed on the P− substrate 130. For example, the plurality of barrier walls 140 may be formed of an insulating material. In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of barrier walls 140 may be formed of an insulating oxide material. The plurality of barrier walls 140 may be oriented in a column direction and a row direction of the memory cell array 20. For example, a first barrier wall 140 of the plurality of barrier walls 140 may be oriented in a column direction. A second barrier wall 140 of the plurality of barrier walls 140 may be oriented in a row direction. In an exemplary embodiment, the first barrier wall 140 oriented in the column direction and the second barrier wall 140 oriented in the row direction may intersect to form a trench region. The trench region may have a cross-sectional shape that may accommodate the memory cell 12 therein. For example, the trench region may have a cross-sectional shape of a square, a rectangle, a cylinder, and/or other shapes that may accommodate the memory cell 12. The height of the barrier walls 140 may be dependent upon the height of the word line (WL) 28. For example, the barrier walls 140 may have a height extending shorter than the height of the N+ source region 120 when the word line (WL) 28 has a height extending past a bottom region of the P− body region 122 to be adjacent to a top region of the N+ source region 120. In another exemplary embodiment, the barrier walls 140 may have a similar height as the N+ source region 120 when the word line (WL) 28 has similar height as the P− body region 122. In other exemplary embodiments, the barrier walls 140 may have a height taller than the height of the N+ source region 120 when the word line (WL) 28 has a height that does not extend past a bottom region of the P− body region 122.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional view of a portion of the memory cell array 20 having a plurality of memory cells 12 in accordance with a first alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a column of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20 similar to the sectional view shown in FIG. 3, except for an alternative word line (WL) 28 configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may be formed of a metal or conductive layer having an “U” cross sectional shape. In an exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may be formed of two side portions with an interconnecting bottom portion connecting the two side portions. The word line (WL) 28 may be arranged between two contiguous memory cells 12 (e.g., memory cells 12 located on different rows of the memory cell array 20). The word line (WL) 28 may be shared between two contiguous memory cells 12 in a column direction. For example, each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may be capacitively coupled to a respective P− body region 122 via a respective insulating or dielectric region 128. Thus, the two side portions of the word line (WL) 28 may be connected to each other via a bottom portion so that two contiguous memory cells 12 may share a word line (WL) 28.

The word line (WL) 28 may have a predetermined height to apply a voltage potential in order to perform one or more operations (e.g., read, write, refresh, and/or other active operation) on the memory cells 12. In an exemplary embodiment, each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may have a height similar to or equal to the height of a respective P− body region 122. In another exemplary embodiment, each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending beyond the height of a respective P− body region 122. For example, each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending past a bottom region of the P− body region 122 to be adjacent to a top region of the N+ source region 120. In another exemplary embodiment, each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending past a top region of the P− body region 122 to be adjacent to a top region of the N+ drain region 124. In other exemplary embodiments, each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending past both a bottom region and a top region of the P− body region 122 to be adjacent to a top region of the N+ source region 120 and a bottom region of the N+ drain region 124, respectively.

Also, each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may have a height shorter than a height of the P− body region 122. In an exemplary embodiment, a bottom region of each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may be flushed with a bottom region of the P− body region 122 while a top region of each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may be below a top region of the P− body region 122. In another exemplary embodiment, a top region of each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may be flushed with a top region of the P− body region 122 while a bottom region of each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may be above a bottom region of the P− body region 122. In other exemplary embodiments, a top region of each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may be below a top region of the P− body region 122 and a bottom region of each side portion of the word line (WL) 28 may be above a bottom region of the P− body region 122.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a cross-sectional view of a portion of the memory cell array 20 having a plurality of memory cells 12 in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a column of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20 similar to the sectional view shown in FIG. 3, except for an alternative word line (WL) 28 configuration. As discussed above, the word line (WL) 28 may be formed of a metal layer or a polycide layer or any other conductive layer. The word line (WL) 28 may have a pair of “L” cross sectional shaped contacts located on two sides of the P− body region 122. For example, a word line (WL) 28 may be capacitively coupled to a single P− body region 122 and may not be shared between two contiguous P− body regions 122 in a column direction. In an exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may be formed of an elongated region along a side of the P− body region 122 and a short bottom region formed on the barrier wall 140. In an exemplary embodiment, two contiguous memory cells 12 arranged in a column direction of the memory cell array 20 may not share a word line (WL) 28. For example, each word line (WL) 28 may correspond to each memory cell 12 in a column direction of the memory cell array 20. The word line (WL) 28 may be capacitively coupled to two sides of the P− body region 122 via the insulating or dielectric region 128. A voltage potential may be capacitively applied to the P− body region 122 via the word line (WL) 28 located on the sides of the P− body region 122.

The word line (WL) 28 may have a predetermined height to apply a voltage potential in order to perform one or more operations (e.g., read, write, refresh, and/or other active operation). In an exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height similar to or equal to the height of the P− body region 122. In another exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending beyond the height of the P− body region 122. For example, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending pass the bottom region of the P− body region 122 into the N+ source region 120. In another exemplary embodiment, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending pass the top region of the P− body region 122 into the N+ drain region 124. In other exemplary embodiments, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height extending pass both the bottom region and the top region of the P− body region 122 into the N+ source region 120 and the N+ drain region 124, respectively.

Also, the word line (WL) 28 may have a height shorter than a height of the P− body region 122. In an exemplary embodiment, a bottom region of the word line (WL) 28 may be flushed with a bottom region of the P− body region 122 while a top region of the word line (WL) 28 may be below a top region of the P− body region 122. In another exemplary embodiment, a top region of the word line (WL) 28 may be flushed with a top region of the P− body region 122 while a bottom region of the word line (WL) 28 may be above a bottom region of the P− body region 122. In other exemplary embodiments, a top region of the word line (WL) 28 may be below a top region of the P− body region 122 and a bottom region of the word line (WL) 28 may be above a bottom region of the P− body region 122.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a three dimensional view of a portion of the memory cell array 20 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a 4×4 array of the memory cells 12 shown in FIG. 2. As discussed above, each memory cell 12 may comprise an N+ source region 120, a P− body region 122, and an N+ drain region 124. The N+ source region 120, the P− body region 122, and the N+ drain region 124 may be disposed in sequential contiguous relationship within a pillar or fin configuration that may extend vertically or perpendicularly to a plane defined by the P− substrate 130.

FIG. 7 shows top and cross-sectional views of a portion of a memory cell array 20 having a plurality of memory cells 12 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The top view illustrated in FIG. 7 may be similar to the top view shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of barrier walls 140 may extend in a first orientation along a first plane of the memory cell array 20. Also, a plurality of barrier walls 140 may extend in a second orientation along the first plane of the memory cell array 20. The plurality of barrier walls 140 extending in the first orientation and the second orientation may form a trench region. The memory cells 12 may be formed between the trench regions of the plurality of barrier walls 140. As discussed above, each word line (WL) 28 may extend in the second orientation along a second plane of the memory cell array 20. In an exemplary embodiment, each word line (WL) 28 may be arranged between memory cells 12 of the memory cell array 20. For example, each word line (WL) 28 may be shared between contiguous memory cells 12 in a column direction of the memory cell array 20.

Sectional view A-A is taken along line (A-A) of the top view, sectional view B-B is taken along line (B-B) of the top view, and sectional view C-C is taken along line (C-C) of the top view. As shown in section view A-A, the word line (WL) 28 may be arranged on top of the barrier wall 140 extending in the second orientation. The word line (WL) 28 and the barrier wall 140 may be arranged on top of the substrate 130.

Sectional view B-B may illustrate a row of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20. The barrier walls 140 extending in the first orientation may separate each column of memory cells 12 of the memory cell array 20. For example, the barrier walls 140 may separate the plurality of regions of the memory cell 12 (e.g., N+ source region 120, P− body region 122, and N+ drain region 124).

Sectional view C-C may illustrate a column of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20 similar to the sectional view of FIG. 3. In an exemplary embodiment, each row and/or column of the memory cell array 20 may include a plurality of memory cells 12. The word line (WL) 28 may be arranged on top of the barrier wall 140 extending in the second orientation.

FIG. 8 shows top and cross-sectional views of a portion of a memory cell array 20 having a plurality of memory cells 12 in accordance with a first alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. The top view and the cross-sectional views illustrated in FIG. 8 may be similar to the top view and the cross-sectional views shown in FIG. 7. A plurality of barrier walls 140 may extend in a first orientation along a first plane of the memory cell array 20. Also, a plurality of barrier walls 140 may extend in a second orientation along the first plane of the memory cell array 20. The plurality of barrier walls 140 extending in the first orientation and the second orientation may form a trench region where the memory cells 12 may be formed.

As discussed above, each word line (WL) 28 may extend in the second orientation along a second plane of the memory cell array 20. In an exemplary embodiment, each word line (WL) 28 may be arranged between memory cells 12 of the memory cell array 20. For example, each word line (WL) 28 may be shared between contiguous memory cells 12 in a column direction of the memory cell array 20. The memory cell array 20 may have a plurality of word lines (WL) 28 extending in the second orientation. One or more of a plurality of word lines (WL) 28″ may be connected to a constant voltage source while rest of the plurality of word line (WL) 28 may be connected to a variable voltage source. For example, one or more of word lines (WL) 28″ may be connected to ground. In another exemplary embodiment, one or more word lines (WL) 28″ may be connected to a constant voltage source applying a predetermined voltage potential. The one or more word lines (WL) 28″ may be configured in a predetermined arrangement. For example, the one or more word lines (WL) 28″ may be inserted for every two word lines (WL) 28.

Sectional view A-A is taken along line (A-A) of the top view, sectional view B-B is taken along line (B-B) of the top view, and sectional view C-C is taken along line (C-C) of the top view. As shown in sectional view A-A, the word line (WL) 28 may be arranged on top of the barrier wall 140 extending in the second orientation. The word line (WL) 28 and the barrier wall 140 may be arranged on top of the substrate 130.

Sectional view B-B may illustrate a row of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20. The barrier walls 140 extending in the first orientation may separate each column of memory cells 12 of the memory cell array 20. For example, the barrier walls 14 may separate the plurality of regions of the memory cell 12 (e.g., N+ source region 120, P− body region 122, and N+ drain region 124).

Sectional view C-C may illustrate a column of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20 similar to the sectional view of FIG. 3. In an exemplary embodiment, each row and/or column of the memory cell array 20 may include a plurality of memory cells 12. The word line (WL) 28 may be arranged on top of the barrier wall 140 extending in the second orientation.

FIG. 9 shows top and cross-sectional views of a portion of a memory cell array 20 having a plurality of memory cells 12 in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. The top view and the cross-sectional views illustrated in FIG. 9 may be similar to the top view and the cross-sectional views shown in FIG. 7. A plurality of barrier walls 140 may extend in a first orientation along a first plane of the memory cell array 20. Also, a plurality of barrier walls 140 may extend in a second orientation along the first plane of the memory cell array 20. The plurality of barrier walls 140 extending in the first orientation and the second orientation may form a trench region where the memory cells 12 may be formed.

As discussed above, each word line (WL) 28 may extend in the second orientation along a second plane of the memory cell array 20. The memory cell array 20 may have a plurality of word lines (WL) 28 extending in the second orientation. For example, memory cells 12 along a row direction of the memory cell array 20 may not share a word line (WL) 28. The word lines (WL) 28 may be configured on two sides of the memory cell array 12 in order to capacitively apply a voltage potential. In another exemplary embodiment, the word lines (WL) 28 may be configured on a dummy row 902 of memory cells 12. The dummy row 902 of memory cells 12 may enable a row of memory cells 12 to not share word lines (WL) 28 with another row of memory cells 12.

Sectional view A-A is taken along line (A-A) of the top view, sectional view B is taken along line (B-B) of the top view, and sectional view C is taken along line (C-C). For example, the word line (WL) 28 may be arranged on top of the barrier wall 140 extending in the second orientation. The word line (WL) 28 and the barrier wall 140 may be arranged on top of the substrate 130.

Sectional view B-B may illustrate a row of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20. The barrier walls 140 extending in the first orientation may separate each column of memory cells 12 of the memory cell array 20. For example, the barrier walls 14 may separate the plurality of regions of the memory cell 12 (e.g., N+ source region 120, P− body region 122, and N+ drain region 124).

Sectional view C-C may illustrate a column of memory cells 12 in the memory cell array 20 similar to the sectional view of FIG. 3. In an exemplary embodiment, each row and/or column of the memory cell array 20 may include a plurality of memory cells 12. The word line (WL) 28 may be arranged on top of the barrier wall 140 extending in the second orientation. Two rows of dummy memory cells 902 may be configured at contiguous rows of a row of memory cell 12.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, other various embodiments of and modifications to the present disclosure, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, although the present disclosure has been described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present disclosure may be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the present disclosure as described herein. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor memory device comprising: a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns, each memory cell having: a first region electrically connected to a source line; a second region electrically connected to a bit line; and a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region; a first barrier wall continuously extending in a first orientation of the array directly adjacent to a first side of the first region of the plurality of memory cells; and a second barrier wall extending in a second orientation of the array directly adjacent to a second side of the first region of the plurality of memory cells; wherein the second barrier wall intersects with the first barrier wall to form a trench region configured to accommodate each of the plurality of memory cells; wherein the bit line is electrically connected to respective second regions of immediately adjacent memory cells.
 2. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region are N-doped regions.
 3. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 2, wherein the body region is an P-doped region.
 4. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 2, wherein the body region is an undoped region.
 5. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the first barrier wall and the second barrier wall are formed of an insulating oxide material.
 6. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the first barrier wall and the second barrier wall are formed on a P-type substrate.
 7. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line is disposed along a side of the body region.
 8. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein a height of the word line is similar to a height of the body region.
 9. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line is disposed adjacent to a side of the body region and at least a portion of a side of the first region.
 10. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line is disposed along a side of the body region and at least a portion of a side of the second region.
 11. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line is disposed along a side of the body region, at least a portion of a side of the first region, and at least a portion of a side of the second region.
 12. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein a height of the word line is shorter than a height of the body region.
 13. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
 14. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line has a U cross-sectional shape.
 15. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line has an L cross-sectional shape.
 16. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line is capacitively coupled to a plurality of the body regions.
 17. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line is coupled to a constant voltage potential.
 18. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the word line is coupled to a ground voltage potential.
 19. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the array of memory cells comprises a dummy row of memory cells separating adjacent rows of the memory cells.
 20. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 19, wherein the bit line is connected to the second region via a bit line contact.
 21. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the source line extends in the first orientation configured in a plane below the first region.
 22. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the bit line extends in the second orientation configured in a plane above the second region. 